09-09-2004, 03:06 AM
Bismillah
As Salam alaikum
My music listening goes in phases. Overall, I am trying to phase it out completely. There was an Egyptian scholar who visited us here in the US and he was asked about music. He pointed out that music has a deadening effect towards the qur'an which I find to be true. The sound of music hardens the heart towards the sound of the qur'an.
More advice for my new brother coming from my personal experience of converting:
Be careful with overwhelming yourself too much in the beginning. There are scholars who study their whole lives and are still far from know everything about Islam. Don't let the fact that this beautiful fruit called Islam is so wonderful that you try to swallow it whole. Take small bites, digest and continue. It will come. You cannot learn everything at once. I'd stick with learning your prayers first and foremost since it is a major connection to Allah and seperates us from other religions.
I tried to learn and do everything at once. I eventually became overwhelmed and fell away from Islam for a while. Think of your soul as a muscle maybe. You cannot bench 500 pounds right away. It takes years of training and patience. But with perserverance it will come. Do as Allah Guides because after all He is the Supreme Guidance. This is just from what I lived.
I am so happy for you. I am also happy for me that Allah let me be a muslim so I can experience events like these and understand the jubilation that we go through when Allah Guides us.
I remember 'seeing' for the first time after I converted as well. It is like reality has actually decended. The previous life and beliefs seem like a weird dream. Once the scales fall from our eyes, how can we ever go back to thinking in the old manner?
Welcome, my dearest brother. If we never meet in this world, Insha'Allah, we will meet in the Gardens that Allah has Created for His believers. Insha'Allah we will all meet there.
As Salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu